The hidden door sealed behind them with a muted thud, leaving the echoes of the ravine behind. The air within was cool and stale, smelling faintly of stone dust and old oil. Lortheo led the way, his uneven gait and constant muttering lending an uneasy rhythm to their steps. The carved passage opened into a vast chamber, lit in pools of dim orange by scattered braziers. Intricate stonework covered every wall, ancient artistry telling forgotten stories in bas-relief. It felt less like a hall and more like a sanctum — the very stones breathed with solemn purpose.

Lortheo’s voice dropped as he motioned toward a distant archway. Beyond it came the murmur of voices and the shuffle of unseen feet. “The keepers of the flame,” he whispered. “Better we avoid them.” He turned sharply, taking them down a lesser passage until the air grew warmer and an oppressive, metallic scent mingled with the stone.

The tunnel ended in a colossal arch, and from beyond came a deep, resonant chuckle — a sound that seemed to vibrate in the bones. A voice, thick with ancient power, called out: “Lortheo. I did not expect you today. Have you brought me… a snack of surfacers?”

Then the dragon appeared.

The massive, crimson-scaled head emerged from shadow, molten eyes narrowing. His presence filled the space like a storm front. Lortheo stammered assurances, claiming they bore dire news: the Demogorgon was loose in the Underdark, threatening all. At the name, Thumberchaud’s gaze sharpened. He feigned indifference, but there was an unmistakable flicker — the barest shadow of concern.

The companions pressed the danger, warning that the demon lord might bring ruin even to Gracklestugh, that the dragon’s comfortable dominion could vanish in fire and madness. Self-interest, not heroism, was their weapon of persuasion. Thumberchaud’s great lip curled in grudging amusement. “I have never tasted a demon lord,” he mused.

Before the parley could deepen, the temple trembled. Dust sifted down from the high stonework. A robed duergar rushed in, breathless, announcing a great monster at the harbor. The Demogorgon had arrived.

The dragon’s eyes flared like open furnaces. With a thunderous laugh, he declared his impending victory — and the eternal debt the city would owe him for it — before crouching and leaping skyward. Stone shattered under his weight as he punched through the ceiling, the daylight of Gracklestugh spilling down through the ruin.

Shouts echoed above. The party followed, emerging into chaos: the dragon forcing his bulk through narrow streets, wings hammering the air, scattering rubble and panicked duergar alike. Ahead, at the Darklake’s edge, the Demogorgon loomed — a nightmare of two glaring heads, writhing tentacles, and a towering, amphibious bulk. Duergar archers loosed desperate volleys, their efforts little more than stings.

Thumberchaud circled wide over the water, then stooped, exhaling a torrent of fire that bathed demon and hapless defenders alike. The Demogorgon roared, scorched but hardly slowed. Maledurk swooped in next, hurling rubble that cracked against the beast’s heads with a dull, unsatisfying thud.

Tempest’s magic followed — a sphere of virulent acid splashed across the demon’s hide, hissing where it ate into flesh. In the next breath, she wove a greater spell, shrouding her allies in invisibility. Thorn seized the moment, sending twin lances of lightning snapping between the monster’s heads, the ozone tang sharp in the air. The Demogorgon staggered, one head snapping wildly, the other fixed on Thumberchaud.

The dragon landed with an earth-shaking impact, tearing at the demon with tooth and claw. The shoreline became a frenzy of scale, talon, and tentacle. Maledurk, still unseen, ripped into the demon’s flanks with his own claws. Tempest called forth a swarm of stinging insects to harry its every motion. Thorn struck again — this time with a beam of annihilation that sheared away a portion of the demon’s shoulder and neck in a haze of drifting ash.

Even maimed, the Demogorgon fought like a force of nature, and the air rang with the sounds of their struggle. Allies and enemies alike bled on the docks, the lake lapping red at its edges. Yet through the haze of fire, magic, and steel, a truth crystallized in the companions’ minds: the fight was not yet won, and even with a dragon’s might beside them, this battle could end in glory… or in ruin.

Session Notes
  • The session resumes with an in-game recap:
    • The party previously fought Gray Ghosts in a warehouse, descended into a basement, and discovered a concealed passage behind shelves.
    • They followed natural rock tunnels into a cavern full of mushrooms; most of the party crossed by flying.
    • They encountered a man (name clarified later as Lortheo) who was “making stuff,” including poisons, and who was intrigued by their report of the Demogorgon in the Underdark.
    • Lortheo urged them to speak with the red dragon who lives in Gracklestug and guided them through more tunnels into a large east–west ravine beneath the city.
    • He poured a vial on a canyon wall to reveal a hidden door, then opened it and led the party inside.

  • Entering the hidden door:

    • The corridor beyond was constructed and reinforced, unlike the earlier natural tunnels.
    • It opened into a large, built chamber with low light from braziers/torches and intricate stonework along the walls, ~25–30 feet high, with the feel of a temple.
    • The group realized they likely entered through a side passage rather than a main entrance.
    • From a larger doorway to the left came voices and footsteps; Lortheo identified these as the Keepers of the Flame (temple staff of the dragon) and suggested avoiding them.
    • Lortheo directed the party another way toward a huge arch leading to a further chamber.

  • First contact with the red dragon (name spoken variously in the transcript; dragon is consistently the resident red dragon of Gracklestug’s temple):

    • A rumbling chuckle preceded a voice greeting “Lortheo”, joking about “a snack of surfacers.”
    • A massive red dragon revealed his head from the adjoining chamber, where light and heat indicated significant fire.
    • Observation of the lair: an enormous hoard—a huge pile of gold and treasure—filled the chamber; dragons are known to be strongest in their lairs among their hoards.

  • Clarifications about access and the Gray Ghosts:

    • Lortheo explained the vial reveals existing hidden doors (it does not create doors anywhere); he brews such revealing potions and implied the Gray Ghosts use many covert routes.
    • Lortheo identified this complex as the dragon’s temple and said the Gray Ghosts had a “back door” into it.
    • Name associations were clarified: Lortheo is the guide; Gorglack is a name linked to the Gray Ghosts (a note with that name had been found previously). Lortheo said he made things (poisons) for Gorglack, and it was implied Gorglack may have been among those the party fought earlier (Lortheo might not know Gorglack’s fate).

  • Initial exchange with the dragon:

    • The party reported the Demogorgon’s presence in the Underdark.

    • Insight checks: the dragon acted skeptical but, per Elora’s high result, showed a hint of concern beneath the demeanor.

    • Size comparison: dragon and Demogorgon are similar in overall scale; the Demogorgon likely taller/bulkier; the dragon might be slightly smaller.

    • General lore and observations surfaced in play:

      • Metallic dragons tend to be more cooperative with other peoples; chromatic dragons (like this red) tend toward self-interest.
      • The dragon’s residence in the city implies a transactional arrangement (e.g., powering forges with his fire in exchange for treasure/benefits).
      • Nature/Arcana checks from Maledurk/Tempest/Thorn/Elora concluded the dragon is ancient and enormous, likely centuries old, and appears well-fed/chubby and possibly less active—accustomed to a “cushy” role.
      • Dragons may eat gold/treasure as well as living prey.

    • On motives and appeals:

      • The dragon questioned why he should care about a destroyed place on the surface/elsewhere.
      • The party argued from self-interest, warning that the Demogorgon could threaten his city, his arrangement, and his lifestyle (including the flow of gold).
      • When asked if he feared the Demogorgon, the dragon bristled and denied fear, though Elora’s insight indicated he was afraid.
      • The party floated the (half-joking) food angle (“demon lord steaks”), which caught his attention.

  • Interruption and alarm:

    • A dwarf in priestly robes bearing a stylized dragon breathing fire emblem rushed in; the dragon addressed him as Gartokar.

    • Gartokar began to address the dragon, then saw the party; the dragon rebuked the interruption, but a tremor shook the area, dust falling from above.

    • Gartokar reported a “great monster” at the harbor.

    • The dragon declared his impending victory over the Demogorgon and demanded, in return for saving the city:

      • Servitude, gold, food, and—looking at Tempest—an extremely large cake to celebrate.

    • Without further delay, the dragon launched, smashing up through the ceiling of his chamber and tearing open a huge hole; debris from a building above crashed down. Shouts and panic arose in the city.

    • Gartokar sprinted away; the party decided to follow the dragon.

  • Moving to the surface engagement:

    • The hole opened on the city level south of the Dark Lake, amid the long canyon; the party ascended to follow.
    • As the dragon moved north, he had to squeeze between stone pillars that rose to the cavern ceiling; he barreled through streets, knocking down structures and causing additional panic.
    • Near the main ravine the dragon obtained enough runway to get fully airborne, then flew toward the Dark Lake.
    • From a distance, the party heard the familiar bellowing roar of the Demogorgon from their earlier encounter.

  • Battlefield scene at the water:

    • At the shoreline/docks, the Demogorgon was ashore, tossing duergar into the water as duergar tried to fight and shoot it.
    • The dragon circled high over the water to assess before committing.
    • Initiative was rolled.

  • Round 1 — Elora:

    • Elora considered Flesh to Stone, but the DM warned it was a poor choice here; she instead cast a self-enhancement (later identified by the DM as Investiture of Stone, concentration).
    • Elora held position to better gauge the battle.

  • Round 1 — Demogorgon:

    • The Demogorgon focused a gaze upon the dragon, forcing a Wisdom save; the dragon resisted the effect.
    • Meanwhile, the Demogorgon continued tossing duergar into the water.

  • Round 1 — Red Dragon:

    • The dragon swooped and unleashed a massive fire breath across the docks:

      • The attack scorched duergar and ignited some nearby buildings.
      • The Demogorgon was harmed but appeared resistant to fire, reducing the effectiveness of the breath.

  • Round 1 — Maledurk:

    • Maledurk dive-bombed on foot, grabbed a large chunk of rubble, and hurled it at the Demogorgon’s head.
    • The rock shattered on impact; the blow barely affected the creature (an ineffective tactic against something that massive), though it did make the two heads knock together.

  • Round 1 — Tempest:

    • Tempest cast Vitriolic Sphere on the Demogorgon; the spell landed, dealing acid damage and setting up delayed acid damage on the creature’s next turn.
    • Tempest then cast Greater Invisibility, choosing the party (not the dragon); all four PCs became invisible, granting advantage on attacks while it lasted.

  • Round 1 — Thorn:

    • Thorn cast Chain Lightning, directing bolts to strike both heads (by chaining across the creature).
    • Because the party was invisible, the Demogorgon did not see it coming; the spell hit for full damage, and the Demogorgon reacted violently—significantly injured but still very dangerous.

  • Duergar actions (between rounds):

    • Duergar on the scene continued to attack, but their efforts amounted to minimal damage against the demon lord.

  • Round 2 — Elora:

    • Elora considered Antilife Shell to protect allies, but the DM reminded it is self-centered and would drop her concentration on Investiture of Stone.
    • Elora instead cast Maelstrom, placing the vortex behind the Demogorgon to pull it away from allies.
    • The Demogorgon saved against the effect and was not pulled this round.

  • Round 2 — Demogorgon:

    • The Demogorgon turned to engage the dragon, stepping in and making two tentacle attacks:

      • One hit, one miss (the hit connected with the airborne dragon during the fly-by/close pass).

  • Round 2 — Red Dragon:

    • The dragon landed to commit fully and launched three attacks (bite and claws), hitting and dealing substantial damage to the Demogorgon, keeping its focus.

  • Round 2 — Maledurk:

    • With Greater Invisibility active, Maledurk closed in with Form of the Beast (claws):

      • Three attacks with advantage: the first missed; the next two hit, for 10 and 14 damage, respectively.
      • Maledurk joined the dragon in tearing into the demon lord at melee.

  • Round 2 — Tempest:

    • At the start of Tempest’s turn, Vitriolic Sphere’s delayed acid triggered, dealing additional acid damage to the Demogorgon.
    • Tempest cast Insect Plague, swarming the Demogorgon with biting insects; the creature took damage (saving details not fully specified), visibly annoyed by the cloud.
    • Wild Magic Surge triggered; the outcome was noted as beneficial, though the specific effect was not stated in the transcript.

  • Round 2 — Thorn:

    • Thorn cast Disintegrate, targeting a head/upper neck area:

      • The ray hit, and part of the ear, neck, and shoulder disintegrated into dust, inflicting massive damage.
      • Despite grievous injury, the Demogorgon remained standing, roaring and flailing.

  • End of session:

    • The round cycled back to the top (Elora’s turn next), and the session paused here due to time, with the battle ongoing:

      • The Demogorgon is severely wounded but active;
      • The dragon is engaged in close combat;
      • The party is invisible (Greater Invisibility still up) and pressing the attack at the shoreline of the Dark Lake near the docks.